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An overloaded coolie follows, and dumps down masses of rolled-up bedding and trunks into the small space between our bunks and departs. "This compartment is engaged," I say as politely as I can, conscious that I don't look dignified in shirt-sleeves, but thankful I have only taken off my coat and boots. "Can't help that," snaps the lady. "Isn't there any other " I begin patiently.
Then in the evening, streaming a nice thing for my age, with my rheumatics I have to sleep in the open air of some caravanseral yard, open to all the winds. In the dead o' night jackals and hyaenas come sniffing of my body; and the marauders who don't like dews get into my compartment to keep warm.
I was travelling in a third-class compartment of a crowded train the other day; we were twenty in the compartment, but it seemed a pity to leave any one behind, and we made room for number twenty-one. Nothing but a very kindly human feeling could have packed us tight enough for this.
I had just time to observe that both windows were smashed, and the floor of the compartment tilted, when the match went out in the wind. I had heard no noise of breaking glass. I stumbled slowly to the door, and tried to open it, but the thing would not budge. Whereupon I lost my temper. "Open, you beast, you beast, you beast!" I cried to the door, kicking it hard, and yet not feeling the impact.
"Oh, it is all easier to hear, hard as it is, easier now that this horrible suspicion has gone from my mind why did I not think of that before?" Alone in the corner of the smoking compartment in the train to G , Muller arranged in his mind the facts he had already gathered.
He stopped suddenly and looked at a gage on the wall of the steering-tower a gage that showed the gas pressure. "One compartment of the bag has been ripped open!" cried Tom. "The vapor is escaping! The whole bag may soon be torn apart!" The noise of the pelting hailstones increased.
And when we do arrive what then? What are your wishes? You see, I can't leave the train before we get to Mentone because of my registered luggage. He spoke appealingly. 'You can ignore us at the station, and then leave Mentone again during the day. 'As you wish, he said. 'Good-night! I whispered. 'Good-bye! And I turned to my compartment. 'Carlotta! he cried despairingly.
The sailor in our compartment had a dispute with one of them, and in an instant the door was flung open and the compartment was filled with reeling uniforms and sticks. Peace was made after a moment of uproar and the soldiers got out, but as they did so a pack of their women followers thrust their bare heads and arms into the doorway, cursing and blaspheming with extraordinary rage.
Not one of the pilgrims, not one of the ailing ones, had stirred amidst the rough rocking which bore them onward. Even Sister Hyacinthe, giving way to her overpowering weariness, had just closed her eyes, after drawing the lamp-screen in her own compartment.
M. Etienne Rambert's enquiry about the place where he would be most quiet, was an implicit promise of a handsome tip if nobody did disturb him. "If you like to settle yourself here, sir," the man answered, "you can draw down the blinds at once, and I dare say I shall be able to find room for any other passengers somewhere else." "Good," said M. Rambert, moving towards the compartment indicated.
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